Over 25,000 SPO`s working in state: J&K Govt

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday said that over 25,000 Special Police Officers (SPO`s) were working in the state while nearly 1,900 of them have been regularised as constables/followers.

In a written reply to a question from Congress legislator Bashir Ahmad Magray in the Legislative Council here, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that 25,474 SPO`s are presently working in different units of the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP).

He added that so far 1,852 SPO`s have been regularised as constables/followers.

Omar, meanwhile, said that the state government has formulated a comprehensive policy in 2009 for absorption of SPO`s as constables/followers.

He said that the SPO`s in the age group of 28-37, who have completed three years continuous engagement, are eligible to apply for appointment to the post of constables/followers.

The chief minister, however, mentioned that recruitment through this source should not exceed 15 per cent of the available vacancies.

On the question of salary paid to these officers and whether the government was contemplating to enhance their wages, Omar said that a proposal for enhancement of the honorarium of SPO`s from the existing Rs 3,000 per month to Rs 5,000 per month has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration.